Another contestant has been edited out of the latest MasterChef series following the controversy surrounding the sacked presenters, Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The production company Banijay confirmed to the BBC that a second participant requested removal from the programme.
The move comes two weeks after it was revealed that Sarah Shafi had agreed to be removed, stating the show should not have been aired after allegations against Wallace and Torode emerged. Wallace was dropped after an independent report substantiated 45 allegations against him, including inappropriate sexual language and unwelcome physical contact. Torode was also removed after a substantiated complaint over racist language, which he denies.
A Banijay spokesperson said: “One other contributor decided that given recent events they would like not to be included. We have of course accepted their wishes and edited them out of the show.” The contestant has asked not to be identified.
The series, filmed before the presenters were sacked, began airing last week. The BBC has defended its decision to broadcast, stating it was “the right thing to do” for the amateur chefs who took part. The programme has already been edited to reduce the prominence of Wallace and Torode and to remove Shafi.
The BBC faces fresh criticism on social media over the broadcast, with speculation about whether it would continue if more contestants request removal. In a statement, the BBC said: “This has not been an easy decision… we believe that broadcasting this series is the right thing to do for these cooks who have given so much to the process.”
